ananyo writes: The German chemical giant BASF is moving its transgenic plant operations from Europe to the US, it says, because of widespread opposition to the technology.

The company on 16 January announced that it would move its plant science headquarters from Limburgerhof, Germany to Raleigh, North Carolina and no longer develop plants solely for cultivation in Europe. The division employees 157 people in Limburgerhof, plus another 63 at facilities elsewhere inEurope. BASF said it would relocate 123 of those jobs to the North Carolina facility.

In statement, Stefan Marcinowski, a member of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors, cited “a lack of acceptance for this technology in many parts of Europe – from the majority of consumers, farmers and politicians.” The company instead plans to focus on plant biotechnology markets in the Americas and Asia.